Thanks for the feedback! It seemed that people wanted me to leave out the details in general, and I don't really want to change the rating in the middle of the story, so I've decided to leave out the details. This isn't the chapter that would have contained it, anyway. I was going to put it in here, but I was taking so long to update that I just decided to put it up and just put the other stuff into another chapter. All-in-all…still rated T:-)

Ana: Yeah, I noticed the James Bond-ness, too, though it wasn't intentional, originally. But I left it in just for a giggle…why not:-P

Nicole Harvey: Well write your story! I'd love to read it. :-)

Sharkbite: Yeah, I could have used that scene to explain quite a few of the dynamics between the two characters, and perhaps put in some humor. But I understand that many readers don't want to read that. I could perhaps just write it into a standalone and put it up as a separate story in the M section…what do you think?

I pace behind the red force field, watching Qui-Gon battle the Sith Lord. Suddenly, the Sith Lord bashes Qui-Gon in the chin and runs him through with his lightsaber.

The Sith Lord turns around, but instead of seeing the black and red face under the dark hood, I suddenly see Zanni's, her eyes glowing green. She paces on the other side of the force field, waiting for it to open. When it does, I'm at her with a vengeance, and we push each other around the room with our lightsabers.

Suddenly, our lightsabers are locked, and I'm staring into her brown eyes.

"Are you sure about this?" I ask.

Fear shows in her eyes, and she shakes her head. "No." After a moment she sets her jaw, and yells, "Now!" and pulls her lightsaber away. I run her through, and she falls to the ground.

I start at a voice behind me. "What did you do that for?"

I spin around to see Qui-Gon sitting up, watching me.

"She killed you, Master. I had to kill her."

"But you love her."

"No, I don't."

"Yes you do," he states firmly, gray eyes boring into me.

"But she killed you."

"No, she didn't," he says more gently. "That was a dream."

I look around. We're no longer in that generator room, but in the temple on Coruscant. "That was a dream?" Realization dawns on me. "Then you're still alive?"

He shakes his head sadly. "No, the Sith Lord did kill me. And then you killed him."

I can feel anger welling up again. "I would kill him all over again if I had the chance."

Qui-Gon sighs and puts a hand on my shoulder. "Obi-Wan, don't let your emotions control you. While I am dead in body, I will always be with you through the Force. While we are not really here right now, and while you are actually asleep at the moment, you are not dreaming. I will always be with you, Padawan."

I smile at him, and he smiles back. "I see you have become a knight."

I frown and shake my head. "No, not yet."

He gently touches my hair. "Your braid is gone."

I reach for it and find that indeed, there is nothing there. The door opens and Anakin walks in, dressed in Jedi robes, a braid falling from the base of his neck.

Qui-Gon looks at him fondly. "He makes a fine apprentice."

I nod and pull him to me. "Doesn't he? I'm not going to let you down, Master."

Qui-Gon pats Anakin's head. "I know you won't." He slowly fades away, and I find myself standing in the council chambers with Anakin.

Mace is speaking to me, "Master Kenobi, why are you not in your seat?"

Master?

A voice to my left speaks, "He is presenting his Padawan for the trials." I turn to see Zanni sitting in a council chair, her hair shorter than it is now, no Padawan braid in sight.

Suddenly, the Sith Lord who killed Qui-Gon barges in through the door, and one by one kills the members of the council. I pull Anakin to my side, and he looks around with wide eyes.

The Sith Lord stops when he gets to Zanni, and bows to her before continuing to kill the council members. Only Yoda manages to escape. Suddenly Zanni, lightsaber ignited, lunges at Anakin. I push him behind me and stop Zanni.

"What are you doing? He is only a youngling!"

"No he's not. He killed the younglings!" she yells.

I turn around to find a tall, young man where Anakin was with a scar over his right eye, glowering at Zanni.

"Sith scum!" Zanni yells at him.

"You're no worse," he sneers at her and in a quick motion runs her through with his lightsaber.

The young man turns to me. "Yoda wishes to see you, Master."

- - - - -

I start awake as I feel a hand gently shaking my shoulder. I blink around at my surroundings, finally remembering where I am. Last night after taking Qui-Gon to the room in the temple where he would be prepared for cremation, I wandered around the gardens in a haze for hours. I finally came to sit under a tree, and apparently fell asleep.

I look up to see the handmaiden Dormé standing over me, looking a little concerned.

"Are you all right?" she asks.

I cough and stand up stiffly. I am very achy from the position I slept in all night. "Yes, I'm fine."

She studies me for a second and then continues. "The Queen wanted me to tell you that the Supreme Chancellor and the council are going to land on Naboo in a couple of hours."

I nod and thank her.

She smiles at me. "I'm sorry about Qui-Gon."

"Thank you," I respond courteously. She's nowhere near as sorry as I am. If I had just been a little bit faster…

The Queen, her handmaidens, Zanni, Captain Panaka and I greet the ship as it arrives. The newly-elected Supreme Chancellor Palpatine exits the ship first, greeting the Queen. He is immediately followed by Yoda and several other Jedi masters, who Zanni and I meet. Captain Panaka takes the Trade Federation Viceroy and his officers into the ship.

Zanni and I bow to the Jedi masters in salute and they bow back. Yoda steps forward, scrutinizing us with his wizened face. After a few minutes he sighs and addresses me. "To hear about Qui-Gon's death, I am sorry. One with the Force, your master is now, young Kenobi."

I nod.

"Good work, you both have done," he says to both of us. "Meet with each of you alone, I must. Obi-Wan, come with me. Zandra, meet with you later, I will."

Zanni bows to Yoda and steps away, while I follow Yoda into the Palace.

We find a room where we can be alone to talk, and I kneel on the floor before him in ceremonious respect. I tell him everything that transpired in the past day, and he listens intently.

"The Sith Lord was more powerful with the Force than anyone I have ever encountered. He managed to use the Force in ways that I did now know were even possible."

Yoda nods at this. After several moments of deep thought and pacing on his part, he speaks. "Confer on you, the level of Jedi Knight, the Council does. But agree on you taking this boy as your Padawan learner, I do not."

Qui-Gon wanted me to train Anakin, and I promise him I would, so I will. It's as simple as that. I set my jaw against his words. "Qui-Gon believed in him. I believe in Qui-Gon," I reply.

"The Chosen One, the boy may be; nevertheless, grave danger I fear in his training."

"Master Yoda, I gave Qui-Gon my word. I will train Anakin." I swallow hard. "Without the approval of the Council if I must." I mean it too. The thought terrifies me, but I promised Qui-Gon.

Yoda examines me again. "Qui-Gon's defiance I sense in you. Need that, you do not." He pauses for a minute, for what must be no more than dramatic effect. "Agree, the Council does. Your apprentice, Young Skywalker will be."

Relief washes over me. I'm going to do it, Qui-Gon. And with the approval and help of the Council. I will train Anakin Skywalker.

Yoda dismisses me and tells me to send Zanni to him. I find the handmaiden Dormé again, and she tells me that Zanni has been in the hospital all day visiting patients and helping to tend them.

I find her in one of the makeshift wings set up specifically for the wounded of the war, sitting next to someone in a large leg cast. I lean in the doorway and watch her for a minute. She looks tired, and many stray strands of hair are falling out of her ponytail and into her face. She has a few cuts on her forehead and cheek, too. Despite her haggard appearance, she radiates an aura of strength and confidence, and her eyes are burning as strongly as ever.

She laughs at something said, and I look at who she is talking to. E'Riq. I bristle a little bit when I see him, but not as much as I feel I'm supposed to. I'm too emotionally drained from Qui-Gon's death.

I take a moment to study him, too, and realize that I had never really look at him carefully before. He has dark brown hair, previously short, now hanging in his eyes. His skin is relatively pale, and he has a light scattering of freckles across his face. And then his eyes…are rather haunting. They're a very pale blue, so pale that at the right times it seems that there aren't any irises. There's also something about his gaze that is rather…disarming…and also unsettling. But that might just be the way he's always looked at me. His eyes are rather warm now as he talks to Zanni. Despite well-defined cheekbones, his face has a rather soft countenance, and would look very feminine if it wasn't for his strong jaw line. That's it – he's beautiful. It feels weird to attach such a word to him, but it's a simple statement of truth. By general standards of beauty he is far prettier than Zanni. In fact, sitting next to E'Riq now, Zanni looks rather plain.

I study his build (I think now I'm determined to find something about his appearance in which I am superior) and am surprised when I realize just how skinny he is. He has always given me the impression of someone who is very athletic and well-built, and while he does have muscle mass, he certainly is smaller in stature than I am. He looks rather boyish, I must say. In fact…I wonder how old he is? Nubians do age differently than most humans.

I'm startled from my thoughts when Zanni's head blocks my view from his face. It takes me a minute to realize just what's going on. She's kissing him. She's kissing him? Jedi don't kiss…erm…well we're not supposed to… But there's no doubt about it. Zanni is kissing E'Riq. And E'Riq is definitely kissing back.

----------------

Zanni walks from bed to bed in the hospital, talking with each patient for a few minutes, and helping the nurses with the patients' wounds when possible. Each person she visits seems happy to see her, and when Zanni stands to leave their bedside, they clasp hands with her in Nubian custom.

Zanni finally reaches E'Riq's bed, and takes his hand in hers as she sits down. He is propped up into a sitting position, his bandaged leg jutting straight out in front of him. He leans his head back against the pillow behind him and stares at the wall across the room for a while, just holding tightly onto Zanni's hand. Zanni watches him intently, saying nothing.

Finally, he looks at her, haunted and sad. "I watched them die."

She doesn't say anything, just listens to him.

"Shan fell right on my feet. He looked up at me as he died. In'Sun grabbed my leg, and held it tightly until the life was gone from her fingers." He studies Zanni's face for a moment. She shows no indication of any emotion, simply interest in what he is saying. E'Riq sighs. "You've become used to this, haven't you? How many battles have you been in? Can you even count them?"

Zanni waits a moment before she answers. "I have been in many, and I could count them if I wished to. I remember each one, and I will never forget them." She looks seriously into E'Riq's eyes. "I have not become used to this. I could never become used to anything so horrible."

E'Riq lowers his eyebrows a little. "Then how can you do it? That was too horrible…too horrible to go through again."

Zanni intertwines her fingers with his. "I do it to defend and protect the innocent and the laws of the Republic."

E'Riq nods and looks down at his leg. "You're a guardian of sorts, right?"

Zanni merely nods.

E'Riq looks back up at her, this time his eyes filled with silent thanks. "Thank you, for saving me," he says softly.

Zanni blinks in surprise. "You don't have to thank me for that."

"But I was yelling at you to put me down, to leave me behind, and…and I didn't want you to do that. I was glad you were carrying me."

Zanni smiles and absent-mindedly strokes the side of his hand with her thumb. "You were being brave." She shrugs helplessly. "It happens to the best of us."

E'Riq cracks a smile at that, and lets out a long breath. He glances at the lightsaber clipped to her belt. "You know you're pretty good with that thing. I was watching you with that…guy."

Zanni grins and pulls the lightsaber from her belt, holding it before him so that he can look at it. She's not supposed to do this, but she figures there's no harm in it. He studies the legendary weapon with a little bit of awe, as she explains how it works.

"Yes, you may touch it," Zanni laughs.

He grins sheepishly and very carefully runs his hand over the hilt. "It's really quite beautiful."

Zanni nods. "Yep, she's been a good friend of mine for several years now."

E'Riq pulls his hand away and watches as Zanni clips the weapon back onto her belt. After a moment he laughs. "So is this why you're so hard to seduce? You're a Jedi?"

Zanni laughs, too. "Yes, I guess so."

"What is it, you're too busy with your work to allow distractions or something?"

Zanni shakes her head. "No…well I guess that's part of it. But actually, Jedi aren't allowed to form romantic relationships. Emotional attachments are forbidden. You could in fact say that when we devote our lives to the Jedi Code, we take a vow of celibacy, too."

E'Riq's eyes widen. "But doesn't that mean that what we did…"

Zanni puts a silencing finger to his lips. "The Council doesn't need to know about it."

"The Council?"

"It's…I suppose you could say it's the governing body of the Jedi. It's a group of Jedi Masters who assign missions, grant titles, run the temple, and police the Code."

E'Riq shakes his head at her. "They sound intimidating. How much trouble would you get in if they found out?"

Zanni bites her lower lip. "You know what, I don't even know. Quite a bit I would imagine."

E'Riq bows his head and a strand of hair falls in his eye. "Sorry, I didn't realize…any of this. Definitely that you would get in trouble."

"Why are you sorry?"

"It's my fault; I seduced you."

Zanni hits him lightly on the shoulder. "You give yourself too much credit. I could have easily stopped you from seducing me. In fact, I'm not even sure that's the right word."

He laughs. "I had you under my spell the whole time. I most definitely did seduce you."

"Did not."

"Did too."

"Did not."

"Did mmmph."

Zanni suddenly puts her face to his, and crushes their mouths together. E'Riq automatically puts his hands behind her head, pulling her closer, tangling his fingers in the hair that is quickly falling out of her ponytail.

The patient in the bed next to them winks at the nurse attending her wounds. "It sure is good to see them like that again. Gives me hope for the rest of us."

The nurse smiles and nods his head, glancing at the pair.

As suddenly as Zanni approached him, she pulls away. E'Riq whimpers a little, opening his eyes, and then frowns at her. "What's wrong?

Zanni sighs. "Don't look now, but Obi-Wan is at the other side of the room."

"Oh," E'Riq states. "Oh!" His eyes widen. "Is he going to tell on you?"

Zanni shrugs. "I don't know. I doubt it though." She looks at his leg. "Let me help you with this."

"What?"

Zanni places her hands over the wound on his leg. "Close your eyes, try to relax. This shouldn't hurt, just tingle a bit."

E'Riq nods and lays his head back, closing his eyes.

Zanni closes her eyes and focuses the Force into the wound, healing the damaged flesh. After a few moments she opens her eyes and pulls her hands away. "Okay, that should help a bit. It's not completely healed, but you should be good as new in a couple of days."

E'Riq looks down at his leg for a moment, smirking a little. "I guess knowing a Jedi can come in handy once in a while."

Zanni smirks back. "Being a Jedi can come in even more handy." She looks up as Obi-Wan approaches, his face the perfect mask of Jedi serenity.

"Hey, Obi," Zanni says.

"Hello, Zanni. E'Riq." Obi-Wan nods his head at both of them. Then to Zanni, he says, "Master Yoda would like to see you now."

Zanni nods and stands. "I will see you later, E'Riq."

E'Riq nods. He turns to Obi-Wan. "I'm sorry to hear about Qui-Gon."

The mask doesn't change. "Thank you."

Obi-Wan turns and leads Zanni out of the hospital.

----------------

I kneel before Master Yoda and Mace, my head bowed in respect, having just finished my report of the past two days, leaving out the part about the trance. I would rather discuss that with Mace in private.

"Concerns me greatly, this Sith Lord does," Yoda says to Mace and myself. "Always two there are; no more, no less. A master and an apprentice."

Mace finishes Yoda's thought, "But which one was destroyed, the master or the apprentice?"

They give each other a worried look. One that I share, too.

Yoda turns to me. "To the level of Jedi Knight, the council advances you, Cloudbearer."

Really? I can feel my face light up as I look to Mace for confirmation.

He nods. "Congratulations Padawan." He chuckles. "I suppose I won't be calling you that any more."

I bow my head again, out of ceremony. "Thank you, Masters."

"Qui-Gon's funeral tonight, the Council will attend. Return to Coruscant after which, we will," Yoda announces.

"The Queen has announced a festival to take place in two days," Mace says.

I nod. "Indeed, their New Year festival is due."

"They are going to combine their victory celebration with this annual one. We would like to ask you and Obi-Wan to stay for the festival."

I bow my head, accepting the orders. "I would be honored to stay."

"Much to attend to, we all have. See you this evening, Knight Cloudbearer."

I stand as Yoda turns to leave. Mace speaks up. "I would like to have a word with you alone, Zanni."

Yoda nods his head and leaves us alone.

Mace turns to me. "I am very proud of you, Zanni. You have more than earned the title of Knight."

I smile. "Thank you, Master."

"I would like to tell you, though, that you still have to take some of your trial examinations."

I sigh. I guess it's reasonable. "I understand."

He studies me for a moment. "Did anything happen with the Sith Lord that I should know about? Did your eyes turn green?"

I nod. "Yes, Master. I, apparently, went into a trance just before his entrance. I'm not sure if it had anything to do with him or not. But when I confronted him, he pushed into my mind." I swallow hard. "He was trying to manipulate me. He introduced himself…as I already told you, his name is Darth Maul." I'm too scared to tell him that he succeeded in manipulating me for a moment, that I almost attacked Obi and Qui-Gon. I'm too scared to admit it to myself.

"Obi-Wan told us something interesting about your battle with this Darth Maul. He said it appeared that when both you and Qui-Gon were battling him, he protected you against Qui-Gon's lightsaber."

I'm confused. Why would he do that? "I don't understand."

"Apparently when Qui-Gon's lightsaber strayed close to you, the Sith Lord blocked it."

I don't like this one bit. This can't mean what I think it means. Why would the Sith have any interest in me? I don't even want to think about such a thing.

"There's something about the previous incident with the Sith Lord that I think you should know," Mace continues. "When you were struck by a lightsaber, it's wasn't Darth Maul's. It was Qui-Gon's."

I stare at him for a second. Why would Qui-Gon's lightsaber hit me? Qui-Gon wouldn't be trying to hit me. Apparently he came close during this last battle too…but that was probably just due to my weakened state. I'm surprised I came out unharmed from the last confrontation. I had just assumed that it was Darth Maul's lightsaber that had struck me before. But does it matter whose it was? I got in the way, it just happened to be Qui-Gon's, out of complete coincidence. That doesn't prove anything.

"I have withheld what you told me about your eyes from the rest of the Council. I have faith in you, Zanni, to figure this out for yourself."

I smile. "Thank you, Master."

He puts a hand on my shoulder. "And if you ever need any help, or simply someone to speak with, I'm always available."

I reach up and hug him. "Thank you, Master," I say again, only this time whispered into his robes.

He hugs me back. "I am honored to have been your mentor. I expect to see you become my equal rather quickly."

My eyes widen. "You mean a Master?"

"Yes, Zanni. The Force is strong in you, and you use it well." He pulls back and looks down at my face. "I look forward to being your equal."

I honestly don't know what to say.

---------------

I stand next to Qui-Gon's body as the cremation ceremony prepares to begin. All of the dead have been prepared and are set out in this field. Each one with receive their own ceremony and will be burned. Qui-Gon is first to go, so that the Council may leave. Zanni has been here for a couple of hours, visiting each body and spending a few minutes knelt next to them. I suddenly realize that Zanni probably knew most of these people. Many others are doing the same as she.

I feel a tug at my sleeve. "Obi-Wan, what is going to happen?"

I look down at the huge eyes staring up at me. It still hasn't sunk in that Anakin is going to become my apprentice. I am going to be to him what Qui-Gon was to me. I only hope I can live up to Qui-Gon.

"They are going to burn Qui-Gon's body as part of a cremation ceremony." I squat so that I am eye-to-eye with him. "Qui-Gon himself has already joined the Force. He is always with you and me."

Anakin nods in understanding that I doubt he has.

I stand again and look out at the horizon. I'm scared. I haven't let myself admit it yet, but it's true. I'm terrified. I haven't known life without Qui-Gon here to guide me, and while I know that he will always be with me through the Force, it's just not the same. I suddenly remember that dream…those dreams. Was that really Qui-Gon talking to me or did I dream him? I think it was really him, talking to me through the Force. But the rest of the dream…I shudder. All of that was rather horrible.

- - - - -

Qui-Gon's body goes up in flames and I recite an old Jedi mantra that is often spoken when a Jedi joins the force. When I am done, I look at everyone who is gathered. The Queen stands near Qui-Gon's head, a religious leader to her right. The Council is opposite me, their faces perfectly masked. Zanni is on my left, and Anakin is on my right, watching in his usual state of wonder.

The members of the Palace Guard are gathered around, and I can see E'Riq leaning on a crutch, watching the flames intently. Beyond this immediate group is a vast crowd of curious Nubians, all silent in reverence. They all came out to see the great Jedi Master off, even though few had ever even seen Qui-Gon.

Once the group moves on to the next body, Yoda approaches me and asks that Anakin and I accompany the Council back to the Palace so that I may be officially knighted, and to officially initiate Anakin. Anakin and I follow, and I see Master Windu speak with Zanni. She shakes her head and gestures to the group. He nods and rejoins us.

"Knight Cloudbearer is going to stay with the funeral procession. I granted her permission to remove her braid. We will officially knight her upon her return to Coruscant."

The other council members nod and wordlessly turn and walk back to the palace.

So Zanni is a knight now, too. I'm not surprised; she was actually about to start the trials, and we both went through the same ordeal.

I look down at Anakin beside me. I'm going to be responsible for his training and for his rearing. I'm starting to realize just how much Qui-Gon really gave me. I only hope that I can do for Anakin everything that Qui-Gon did for me.

If you want a visual to go along with the description of E'Riq, I based him largely on Irish actor Cillian Murphy.